That’s the sound of me hitting my chair after a very busy weekend. I don’t know that I have ever gone 48 hours without posting since I started this blog.
About a week ago we were asked if we would host a fellowship for the teen guys Sunday night if their sponsors provided the food for it. It happened to be right in between other tasks and seemed like a good time, so we agreed. I had been wanting to host one of the teen fellowships (sometimes they are all together, sometimes it’s just guys or girls or just jr. or sr. high), but kept thinking I wanted to get the curtains done for the family room plus this, that, and the other. But there will always be house projects lined up. And guys probably won’t notice those things.
But having people over — even teen guys — led to a day of cleaning yesterday. We “divided and conquered.” I always feel a little guilty when Jim helps to clean because he leaves for work early and gets home late and just about doesn’t have time for anything else during the week. I hate for him to spend his weekends cleaning. But he saw my master list of things I wanted to get accomplished this weekend and just pitched in. He even told the boys to take on one more “job” than what I has assigned to them. One thing on my list was to take the little grate at the bottom of the refrigerator off and clean it and then to clean the top of the refrigerator. Jim got started on that, and in the “one thing led to another” department, went above and beyond and ended up taking everything out of all the shelves and racks and cleaning out the whole thing. I have to say it did make me smile today to open the refrigerator and see everything gleaming.
It’s especially nice to have everything all caught up in the cleaning department because the next few weeks are going to be really busy: ladies newsletter/booklet this week, then gearing up for the ladies’ luncheon at the end of April. Our school is hosting a yard sale this weekend that I hope to get some things sorted out for: it’s a good place to sell outgrown school uniforms, if nothing else. Then Jason is in a special program at his school in April, plus Easter is coming up, plus a bridal shower next week.
One funny thing in the midst of all the cleaning yesterday: Jason had vacuumed the living room floors, and just a short time later there were several dark specks on it that looked like someone’s sock fuzz. He said something like, “It is so aggravating to see stuff on the floor when I just vacuumed it.” I thought, “Welcome to my world, dear.” 🙂
Then, I had been wanting to use some Christmas money from my step-father and my husband’s mother to get an end table for the living room, and just got to that yesterday. I had seen one in a store months ago and went back to look at it. I wanted it in white, and they only had one. The drawer seemed to have a little warped place in it and what looked like a crack, but it seemed stable — we likely won’t be putting anything heavy in there. Now, if my husband had been with me, he would have asked right off the bat if they’d take some off the price for the defect. It used to embarrass me to death when he did, but quite often he would get things marked down. I’m the type of person who gets embarrassed just trying to make a return to a store to to tell a waiter my food isn’t right. But this time I just plunged in and asked if they’d take anything off the price. Well, they said, it’s already a good price, and, the good thing was if you closed the drawer you wouldn’t be able to see it…and I just kept standing there. And finally they gave me $20 off. I thought, “Jim would be so proud of me!”
Back to the fellowship (yes, I’m rambling…) it was very nice. The guys played the Wii and ate meatball subs and cupcakes. When they sang and then were asked to share a verse or a testimony, I was very pleased that there were no awkward silences or staring at the floor — they seemed to jump right in. And it was neat to see Jesse in that setting. Of course, he’s had friends over many times, one or two at a time, but I wondered how he did in the group as a whole, and he seemed to do ok.
One other exciting thing this weekend — I think I’ve found my “mother of the groom dress.”
What do you think? It’s funny how it’s almost exactly like what I had pictured in my mind. It’s more than I would normally spend…but how often does a son get married? To find something I like, in my size…I’m thinking I’ll go ahead and order it in the morning. I tend to overthink catalog purchases until the item is no longer available — probably a good thing, most of the time, but I’d hate for that to happen with this.
So…those are my “stray thoughts” from this weekend. I think I am going to go wind down with a book.
Stray Thoughts 
I need to make a Master List. What a wonderful thing that everyone pitched in. That was great. Glad that fellowship went well and all was not silent. Very beautiful dress. I think you will make your son proud 🙂
I think the dress is beautiful and if it was just what you were picturing for yourself AND it’s in your size, you should definitely go ahead and order it! Of course, if you’re like me you hem and haw because you want to try it on and SEE if you like it — but you can do that when it comes, and if you need to return it at least you know and you don’t spend FOREVER hating everything in the stores because you just KNEW that mail order dress was the perfect one!
That teen fellowship sounds fun! I always enjoyed having the kids friends over — and if they had all been Christian friends, I would have enjoyed them EVEN MORE! LOL!
You are truly blessed that hubby and the boys pitched in! My hubby always pitches in NOW days — wasn’t always so… but now it is. But the boys? Psfh! It was root canal getting them to help! Krysti was slightly better. Amanda’s the only one that used to just jump in and help willingly!
That is a gorgeous dress and you will look gorgeous in it! It’s perfect!
Barbara – get the dress! It’s beautiful, and from what I know about you, it looks like it’s perfect for you. Enjoy it!
About the dress – -what Melli said. Don’t wait because if you can’t find something else just as perfect you’ll hate what you settle for.
I love that your son took some ownership of the clean floor and noticed how quickly it got dirty. If that happens a few more times he’ll likey grow up to be the helpmate his dad is!
As to buying new furniture BEFORE having an all boy get together — gutsy! Is it covered in soda and sub?
i *love* that outfit! i think you should buy it right away☺
and what a nice hubby you have to clean the fridge like that for you♥
It is nice to have your home put back together and clean.
The dress: does the bride want you to wear that color? If so, go for it, but if she’s wearing white or ivory, I think you may be stealing her thunder.
I think the dress is stunning!!!!
You’ve got so much accomplished, Barbara! That’s so nice that everybody chipped in too. I also think the dress looks fabulous!
Thanks for the feedback! One concern with buying any type of clothing online is having to pay for shipping here and then back again if it doesn’t fit or look right. But if it does work — then it saves me hours of traipsing from store to store. And I don’t usually see dressy things like this in stores. Usually anything dressy in stores these days is strapless or has thin shoulder straps. Someone needs to start a “bring back sleeves!” campaign.
Sally, that’s one concern I have — it looks a little bridal itself. I don’t think there will be any doubt who the bride is, however! The etiquette I’ve read online indicates beige is a traditional color for the MOTG to wear. The catalog says this is “oatmeal,” but it looks closer to ivory than beige. I did e-mail a picture to the bride-to-be, but she doesn’t have internet access at her home and hasn’t had a chance to look at it yet.
Well, I’ll head right to the two things I like…pretty clothes and bargains! The dress is gorgeous. I’m sure you’ll look beautiful in it.
That’s good that you stuck to your guns on the table. It was defective and you had every right to ask for a better price. Good for you! My thoughts are that it never hurts to ask, within reason of course. The worse anyone can say is no.
Have a great week.
The dress is gorgeous and you’ll look gorgeous in it! Order away my dear 🙂 I’m cleaning too. Spring cleaning. I feel overwhelmed. I love your sons comment. That sock fuzz gets me every time.
How great that all of your “men” pitched in to help! that is so awesome, Barbara AND I love the dress, too! Get it! Quickly! and I always look at the shipping costs as money well spent when considering the savings on gas and time!
Hey, I think there is a book called The Mother of the Groom Wore Beige or something like that! Seriously! *smile*
Barbara, I love the dress! You’ll have to let me know where you are getting it.
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